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Wangaratta Handweavers and Spinners
50th Anniversary Exhibition 2023
Click on the photos for some very interesting descriptions of the items.
50th Anniversary Exhibition.
2023 was the 50th anniversary of the Wangaratta Handweavers and Spinners.
An exhibition was held mid 2023 to celebrate the Wangaratta Handweavers and Spinners group which has flourished in North East Victoria over the past 50 years.
WHWS began in 1973 and several of the original members are still actively involved.
Current membership is around 60 enthusiastic crafters who meet regularly on the first Tuesday of each month at the Milawa Community Hall.
Members travel from across the region to attend meetings which provide an opportunity for friendship, fun, learning, social engagement and community involvement
The interests of the group reference the well known textile history of Wangaratta,
particularly the manufacture of woollen yarn. Group members support the Wangaratta
Show and other North East agricultural shows, by entering their work and conducting fibre
art demonstrations.
The exhibition showcased the range of talents within the group and hopes to encourage
those interested in learning or sharing similar skills to join this regional group. Also
included is a retrospective display of items crafted in the early years.
An exhibition was held mid 2023 to celebrate the Wangaratta Handweavers and Spinners group which has flourished in North East Victoria over the past 50 years.
WHWS began in 1973 and several of the original members are still actively involved.
Current membership is around 60 enthusiastic crafters who meet regularly on the first Tuesday of each month at the Milawa Community Hall.
Members travel from across the region to attend meetings which provide an opportunity for friendship, fun, learning, social engagement and community involvement
The interests of the group reference the well known textile history of Wangaratta,
particularly the manufacture of woollen yarn. Group members support the Wangaratta
Show and other North East agricultural shows, by entering their work and conducting fibre
art demonstrations.
The exhibition showcased the range of talents within the group and hopes to encourage
those interested in learning or sharing similar skills to join this regional group. Also
included is a retrospective display of items crafted in the early years.
The history began in 1973!
Two original members Phyllis Thomas (standing) and Jean Walpole (seated on right) are actively involved in the WHWS.
Lynelle Bourne seated at the spinning wheel is one of the newer members.
Lynelle Bourne seated at the spinning wheel is one of the newer members.
Display of some historical articles.
6. Felted hat by Barbara Amery (a foundation member).
7. Knitted beanie using handspun yarn – Phyllis Thomas.
10. Short-sleeved jumper knitted with hand spun fleece – Phyllis Thomas.
Display of naturally dyed articles.
104. Framed ‘Eco Print’ – Phyllis Thomas
WHWS workshop (2014). Eco printing on woollen blanket using a variety of local vegetation and framed into cards.
109. Sandy Thornhill-Cole. Three Skeins
Commercial wool using Peppermint leaves (orange). Onion skins mordanted twice in alum and crème of tartar (brown). Green peach leaves (green).
WHWS workshop (2014). Eco printing on woollen blanket using a variety of local vegetation and framed into cards.
109. Sandy Thornhill-Cole. Three Skeins
Commercial wool using Peppermint leaves (orange). Onion skins mordanted twice in alum and crème of tartar (brown). Green peach leaves (green).
The Conny Project.
Conny Doensen was a longtime member and a passionate and skilled spinner. When she passed away in 2022 at the age of 91 she bequeathed to members of WHWS a total of 32 project bags of handspun yarn. The items on display represent Conny’s legacy.
126. Barbara Tatterson – Navy Vest knitted with buttoned front in basket weave stitch.
129. Suzanne French – Scarf Wrap. Handspun and dyed by Conny. Knitted by Suzanne.
131. Sandy Thornhill-Cole – Woven Scarf. Warp – alternate my handwoven yarn and Conny’s yarn. Weft – Conny’s pink yarn.
133. Roberta Moser – Large Vest, pure wool.
137. Tracey Sharkey Grey Blanket, crocheted blanket measuring 110cm x 110cm.
126. Barbara Tatterson – Navy Vest knitted with buttoned front in basket weave stitch.
129. Suzanne French – Scarf Wrap. Handspun and dyed by Conny. Knitted by Suzanne.
131. Sandy Thornhill-Cole – Woven Scarf. Warp – alternate my handwoven yarn and Conny’s yarn. Weft – Conny’s pink yarn.
133. Roberta Moser – Large Vest, pure wool.
137. Tracey Sharkey Grey Blanket, crocheted blanket measuring 110cm x 110cm.
50th Cake. Love the sheep!
The 50th Anniversary cake was made and decorated by member Wendy Beer.
A luncheon begun the 50th Anniversary celebrations in February 2023 at the Winton Wetlands.
46 attended included guests from Albury/Wodonga Guild, Benalla Spinners, Beechworth Spinners and Cobram Spinners. The first president of WHWS cut the cake.
A luncheon begun the 50th Anniversary celebrations in February 2023 at the Winton Wetlands.
46 attended included guests from Albury/Wodonga Guild, Benalla Spinners, Beechworth Spinners and Cobram Spinners. The first president of WHWS cut the cake.
Gurli Nielsen, handspun yarn
Sandy Thornhill-Cole. Handspun yarn
Hand spun yarn from the ‘fibre sandwich’ Christmas meeting 2022 and pin-loom sample.
Barbara Tatterson. Handspun yarn
Natural dyed hand spun yarn; L to R – using red onion skins (green), brown onion skins (orange) and red onion skins using mordant alum (green).
33 grams of onion skins per 100 grams of yarn. The hanks were left in the dye overnight.
33 grams of onion skins per 100 grams of yarn. The hanks were left in the dye overnight.
Barbara Amery. Shawl.
The Shawl was crafted for the scarf exchange in 2022.
I received lovely soft wool in delicate pastel shades to work with.
I spun it fairly finely and of course with spinning the colours become mixed and muted.
This is a long wrap around shawl.
I used a pattern from Classic Knit Shawls by Interweave.
I received lovely soft wool in delicate pastel shades to work with.
I spun it fairly finely and of course with spinning the colours become mixed and muted.
This is a long wrap around shawl.
I used a pattern from Classic Knit Shawls by Interweave.
Maureen Hughes. Basket of knitted items.
Tracey Sharkey. Selection of work.
Marion Pilley. Jumper.
Hand knitted from multiple hand dyed Merino colours and natural cream and Moorit Corriedale milled yarn from our two yarn makers – double plied, except for the polo neck and yoke area which also has a third strand of pure alpaca through it, making it ultra soft! Hand knitted on circular needles from the top down. Knitted as a “showcase piece” demonstrating how natural and hand-dyed wool and alpaca yarns could be mixed into a unique garment.
Suzanne French. Knitted Wearwithall jacket.
Leanne Guy. Graphic Pullover.
Leanne Guy
“Graphic Pullover” by Amy Gunderson (available on Ravelry)
Baby alpaca yarn (close to an 8 ply) sourced in Cuzco, South America.
Knitted to the larger size guide to produce a more generous garment of form fitting.
The pattern is very well explained and fun to knit.
“Graphic Pullover” by Amy Gunderson (available on Ravelry)
Baby alpaca yarn (close to an 8 ply) sourced in Cuzco, South America.
Knitted to the larger size guide to produce a more generous garment of form fitting.
The pattern is very well explained and fun to knit.
Gurli Nielsen. Knitted shawl.
The knitted item is made from hand spun yarn. White colour is from a cross breed pet sheep. The coloured yarn from New Zealand prepared fibre (not sure if it’s from Ashford).
The spun yarn: white from cross breed pet sheep, the green is Ashford fibre and the other one is pure silk from Fiberartemis.
The spun yarn: white from cross breed pet sheep, the green is Ashford fibre and the other one is pure silk from Fiberartemis.
Gesine Wiedmann. Knitted Jacket.
Hand spun Beersheba fibre and ‘My Beautiful Batts’ of merino silk.
Catherine Eldred. Fair Isle Tam.
The tam is the Katie’s Kep Shetland Wool Week 2020 fair isle pattern.
It is knitted in Cathy’s hand-spun wool. The fawn, grey and dark brown colours are natural fleece colours. The blue is indigo dyed and the russet colour was produced by natural dyeing with
eucalyptus cinerea.
It is knitted in Cathy’s hand-spun wool. The fawn, grey and dark brown colours are natural fleece colours. The blue is indigo dyed and the russet colour was produced by natural dyeing with
eucalyptus cinerea.
Tracey Sharkey. Knitted scarf. Sensational singles.
The yarn was hand spun following a ‘Sensational Singles’ workshop with Janet Day in 2022. The yarn was then crocheted. Tracey added a clasp which she made with Fimo, a polymer modelling clay.
Tracey Sharkey. Crochet parasol.
The parasol was crocheted after wanting to create something that looked different, using 4 ply cotton and a free pattern found online. Tracey found a second hand frame that came apart and attached the crochet to it.
Tracey Sharkey. Windowpane crocheted rug.
The Stained Glass Windowpane blanket was crocheted with Scheepjes cotton from a pattern
called Medina Mosaic by The Guy with the Hook.
called Medina Mosaic by The Guy with the Hook.
Ruth Wolfel. Pin loom weaving samples.
This is Ruth’s first attempt at weaving and she finds the effects stunning and different to knitting and/or crochet. The squares were woven on a simple 6" pin loom using coloured acrylic yarn just as it came off the ball. No additional colours or yarn was added to create the resulting pattern.
Lynelle Bourne. Pinloom garment.
Construction of 25 coloured squares using hand-spun yarn plied with cotton, and 12 cream Slumby cotton squares for the back of the garment.
A total of 37 squares joined together with crochet, using the ‘3 chain DC’ join.
A total of 37 squares joined together with crochet, using the ‘3 chain DC’ join.
Tracey Sharkey. A sensational cape.
Tracey’s Pin Loom Cape was made during Covid following a pin loom weaving workshop by Julie
Hofer of Petlyn Fibre Products. The loom used resembled a rectangular brick and her inspiration for the cape came from the Game Of Thrones Wall. She made about 300 tiles, rectangular, square and triangular and created the pattern.
Beersheba Duchess (Castledale, Merino and silk) was hand spun for the pin loom tiles and hemp tops were hand spun and then dyed with Indigo for the edging. Tracey then crocheted around each one, crocheted them to each other into strips, then again to assemble the garment. The cape was lined with a recycled linen bed sheet with snowflake sequins. Fur tassels were made from a recycled fur coat for the back.
For the fleece collar, she used Border Leicester raw fleece and felted the cut end, leaving the locks. The back was then lined in satin.
The hand made porcelain snowflake buttons were made by Tracey previously and were used for the front clasp, along with blue and white ribbon.
Hofer of Petlyn Fibre Products. The loom used resembled a rectangular brick and her inspiration for the cape came from the Game Of Thrones Wall. She made about 300 tiles, rectangular, square and triangular and created the pattern.
Beersheba Duchess (Castledale, Merino and silk) was hand spun for the pin loom tiles and hemp tops were hand spun and then dyed with Indigo for the edging. Tracey then crocheted around each one, crocheted them to each other into strips, then again to assemble the garment. The cape was lined with a recycled linen bed sheet with snowflake sequins. Fur tassels were made from a recycled fur coat for the back.
For the fleece collar, she used Border Leicester raw fleece and felted the cut end, leaving the locks. The back was then lined in satin.
The hand made porcelain snowflake buttons were made by Tracey previously and were used for the front clasp, along with blue and white ribbon.
Colleen Arnold. Woven scarf.
This scarf was woven on an Ashford Knitters Loom.
The yarn used for both warp and weft is an 8 ply multicoloured wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills.
Pattern is a simple pickup design.
The yarn used for both warp and weft is an 8 ply multicoloured wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills.
Pattern is a simple pickup design.
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